Method of and apparatus for extinguishing fire in guns.



P. D. TSUKALAS & A. H. KERSTING. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR. EXTINGUISHING FIRE IN GUNS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1913.

1,128,689. Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

'HE NORRIS PErERs c0 PHOTO 1.10:0. WASHINGTON. D. C.

pitta STATES T FINQE.

PELOPIDAS D. TSUKALAS AND ALBERT H. KERSTING, OF $OUTH BETHLEHEM,

' PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE IN GUNS.

Application filed March 20, 1913.

To al whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PELOPIDAS D. Tsu- KALAS, a subject of the King of Greece, residing at South Bethlehem, county of Northampton, State of Pennsylvania, and ALBERT H. Knns'rixc, a citizen of the United States, residing at the same place, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Extinguishing Fire in Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for extinguishing fire in the powder chamber of large guns after a misfire.

The object of the invention is to provide means which will effectively eliminate all liability of a delayed explosion of the powder charge when the breech of the gun is opened.

It is well known that very disastrous explosions have occurred in large guns after a misfire and at the moment of opening the breech block, the inrush of air due to the opening of the breech block causing the sparks to explode the powder charge. As a result of these disasters the nations now have regulations which require that the breech block remain closed after a misfire for a considerable period of time. In the United States Navy the breech block must not be opened within thirty minutes and it will be seen that as a consequence the misfire of a gun puts it out of commission for such a length of time that in the case of actual warfare the efliciency of a battery may be very materially reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for extinguishing any fire which may exist in the powder chamber of the gun without destroying the powder charge because in the case of large guns the value of the powder charge is comparatively great and its destruction means a corresponding loss.

We are aware of the fact that means have been suggested heretofore for extinguishing fire in the powder chamber of a gun after a misfire but such means have not been found to be satisfactory and have not been adopted. The Patents Nos. 783,050 and 944,973 show devices for accomplishing this purpose but in both instances the patentee proposes to use water or steam and this would destroy the powder charge. In the case of Patent Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

Serial No. 755,741.

No. 783,050, means are provided for injecting air or water during the opening movement of the breech block and it will be obvious that this will not eliminate the difliculty because the explosion is liable to occur at the instant of the opening of the breech block.

In our invention we provide for the introduction of carbon dioxid under pressure before the breech block is opened. The expansion of the carbon CllOXlCl in the outer chamber causes a very material reduction in temperature and also dilutes and drives the air and oxygen out of the powder chamber and thus smothers any fire which may have existed there.

In the form of our invention which we now consider best suited for all practical purposes, we provide a tank or reservoir containing carbon dioxid under high pressure and have connected with this tank a flexible hose on the end of which is arranged a tube which is adapted to be inserted in the primer opening and engage the primer seat to secure the tube in the breech block. A valve is provided for the control of the flow of carbon dioXid from the reservoir and when the tube has been inserted in the primer opening this valve is opened and cargon dioxid is injected into the powder cham- The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a portion of the breech of the gun and the apparatus for supplying the carbon dioxid. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the usual mushroom and the tube for supplying the carbon dioxid.

In the drawing, 10 indicates the breech of a gun, 11 the powder chamber thereof, 12 the breech block, and 13 the mushroom which is carried by the breech block. These parts may be of any preferred construction and in the drawing are shown diagrammatically. The mushroom 1s provlded with the usual primer seat 14 and the opening 15 extending axially through the mushroom for the purpose of conducting the fire from the cal end 16 of the tube 17 may be inserted and secured to the primer seat by frictional engagement therewith or other means. The tube 17 is preferably of sufficient length to permit the person handling the same to stand far enough in the rear of the gun to avoid liability of being hit by the gun as it recoils, in case the powder charge explodes while the tube 17 is being inserted.

In Fig. 1 we have shown areservoir 18 which is adapted to contain carbon dioxid under high pressure and which is provided with an outlet pipe 19 having a control valve 20 therein. The pipe 19 is preferably connected with the tube 18 by means of a flexible pipe or hose 21 which permits thetube '17 to be conveniently moved about in being inserted into or removed from the primer seat 14. Vhile we prefer to utilize the primer opening for the purpose of injecting the carbon dioxid it will be obvious that a special opening can be provided for this purpose.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: In the case of a misfire the primer is removed from the seat 14 and the tube 17 is inserted and the valve 20 opened to allow the carbon dioxid to flow into the powder chamber 11. The carbon. dioxid fills the spaces in chamber 11 and drives out all the oxygen and also reduces the temperature in the chamber on account. of the expansion of the carbon. dioxid. We have found by experiment that by permitting the carbon dioxidto flow for a period of twenty to thirty seconds all fire in the outer chamber will be extinguished, and it will be perfectly safe to open the breech block within one minute. a

The carbon dioxid does not affect the powder charge in any way and therefore it is possible to use the charge when the gun is reloaded.

The apparatus which we have shown is also of value for the purpose of ejecting the gases from the gun after the gun has been fired, and in case the regular gas ejecting mechanism is not in commission, the carbon dioxid cooling the walls of the gun, on account of its expansion to a very low temperature, and also sweeping the gun clear of all debris and extinguishing any burning fragments of the powder bags.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

The herein described method of extinguishing fire in the powder charge of a breech-loading gun, after an unsuccessful attempt to discharge the gun, which consists in injecting carbon dioxid under pressure into the powder chamber without disturbing the breech block, whereby any fire existing in the powder chamber is quickly extinguished without, injury to the powder charge.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

PELOPIDAS D. TSUKALAS. ALBERT H. KERSTING. Witnesses:

C. E. HAGERTY, EDGAR A. SELLERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five vcents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G. I 

